NTR Kousuke

Chapter 10

I've finished about half of the room cleanup, but...

The remaining half is the bigger half, right?

This is... oh, from that time...?

Kousuke-kun and I started dating when we entered junior high.

Since everyone at public junior high has known each other since childhood, it's embarrassing, right? So we only told close friends that we were dating.

Becoming junior high students, looking at the class assignments...?

I'm in a different class from both Kashii-san and Kousuke-kun.

...It's a relatively plain class, but... well, I guess this is fine?

I still feel like I can't compete with people like Kashii or Obata, though...

The top in this class was probably Ichijou-san, who was part of Kashii-san's group.

She was originally the third-position girl in Kashii-san's group.

With this, even in this class, I could be in the top tier! I might secure a good position among them!

Ichijou "...Hmm, I have a lot of friends, so? It's hard to form a group with the numbers. Sorry, Mishima-san?"

When I approached Ichijou-san, she gently turned me down...!

That girl! I thought she was laid-back and never refused in front of Kashii-san, but... she doesn't care about anyone other than Kashii-san and takes lateral friendships lightly...

But! Maybe it's time for me to have my own group?

I'm not exactly rivals with Ichijou-san, right? If I become the leader of a strong second-tier group, I'd be in the same faction as the top-tier Ichijou-san, like the biggest ruling party in the class, wouldn't I?

However, that doesn't go well.

I try recruiting girls who stand out for their beauty, athletic skills, or intelligence, but

Everyone is all about Kashii-san, Kashii-san, Kashii-san. Kashii, Kashii!

What's with that!

In the end, the second tier is Ise-san's gal faction.

Their bond is so tight that I can't break in at all.

On top of that, the top Ichijou and Ise-san are thrilled to be in the same class after a long time! I heard Ise-san and Kashii don't get along, but are Ichijou and Ise-san close?

Apparently, Obata and Ise-san are close too... What's that about?

In the end, I'm just the second-in-command of the third-tier group, and it's a group full of complaints and dissatisfaction, making me stand out for the wrong reasons. Opposing Ichijou-san just brings trouble!

I was unlucky.

Since I'm bad at sports, I don't stand out at the sports festival, and at the cultural festival, I only get minor roles.

Unnoticeable, a side character among side characters.

Isn't my position weird?

As for Kousuke-kun, it seems he's having a hard time because his best friend Tachibana-kun, who's in a different class, is being bullied or something. I was worried, but I heard about it later.

It looks like Tachibana-kun caught the eye of Sotomachi-kun, the leader of the biggest boys' faction in our grade, and is being bullied.

...Well, it can't be helped, right? He was allowed certain things because he was in Kanzaki-kun's faction, but since Kanzaki-kun is gone, it's Tachibana-kun's mistake for not adapting.

I subtly suggested to Kousuke-kun that he should get along with Sotomachi-kun's group, but he didn't listen at all. He said Tachibana-kun is his best friend.

That's cool! But is it okay?

Apparently, there were times when Kousuke-kun saved Tachibana-kun from potential attacks or faced various crises. Was it really necessary to go that far?

In the end, the rumor was that Tachibana-kun defeated that violent bully and not only resolved the issue but also stopped bullying across the whole school.

...Come to think of it, didn't Kashii treat Tachibana specially? Even at the Christmas party, she was smiling next to him, and I thought she had weird taste, but it was just a fluke, right?

There's no way Kashii has an eye for people and Tachibana actually did something great. A mob-like boy like him... both Kousuke-kun and Kashii are overrating him, it's laughable! Of course, I won't say it out loud.

Kousuke-kun's house is so close to the junior high that it's almost next door.

I've visited his house a few times.

Latest computer, tons of gaming consoles, and a fancy house? Are they rich?

Though we kept our relationship a secret, we went on dates at the riverside park or shopping at the terminal station. We spent time together regularly.

But we hadn't kissed or done anything intimate yet. We were just kids, after all.

Being together and having our secret time without anyone knowing was so much fun. Since we were in junior high, I got simple accessories or hair clips as gifts. They were treasures to me.

Moving up to second year. The last class change!

I prayed with all my heart! To be with Kashii-san or Kousuke-kun!

There's no class change in third year! So, two years in this class!

How is it!

Class 2...? This time, neither Ichijou-san, Kashii-san, nor Obata-san is here...?

If I put it nicely, it's an average class; if I put it badly, it's characterless?

Surely, in this class...?

Again, second-in-command of the third tier...?

Why? Me? A side character among side characters?

Two perfectly formed groups have already emerged, with good numbers and tight-knit bonds. On top of that, the top two groups are friendly with each other, an overwhelming force of numbers!

And the members' bonds are so strong, it's an unbreakable lineup.

This is ridiculous! I'm not supposed to be like this!

I'm cute, and I have the ability to observe people! So why?

I may not be on Reina Kashii's level, but still!

However, these two groups are weak when it comes to events.

Even in second year, I didn't stand out, and by the final third year, there was a battle that caught the whole school's attention.

Class 1 had flashy members like Kashii, Sotomachi, Ichijou, and Nimura, while

Class 3 had Obata, Aoi, and Kousuke-kun, who competed fiercely at the fall event, creating a legendary moment of youth at school!

Our class got third place at the sports festival and only won the project presentation at the cultural festival, a plain result. Everyone was crying, but since I didn't do much, I felt nothing.

My relationship with Kousuke-kun didn't change much during second and third year.

Of course, we got along well, right? We exchanged gifts on birthdays and Christmas, right?

A fur scarf, cute trinkets, and various things, I received them.

But he still kept talking about Tachibana-kun all the time.

In third year, Tachibana's little sister entered the school, right? She's a first-year ace in the tennis club and rumored to be cute, which irritated me a bit.

Cute? Isn't she just a brat? That kind of girl?

I reminded Kousuke-kun once again that a guy with a girlfriend shouldn't get too friendly with other girls.

Setting our goal to attend Hokushou High School, we studied together to get into the same school.

It's frustrating, but Kousuke-kun is smarter than me.

He's pretty high up even at Shinkawa Junior High. I'm good at Japanese and social studies, but I struggle a bit with English and math.

Kousuke-kun's teaching style is thorough and kind. He doesn't say much, but I can feel that he cares about me.

I end up relying on him and complaining about my current situation and position.

I just wanted him to listen. But Kousuke-kun gently reasoned with me.

It's fine to be the Satsuki you are now. Being popular isn't what makes you happy, right?

I get that. But as a girl, I want to be cute and not lose to other girls.

Indeed, Kousuke-kun is said to be a good boyfriend.

When I vent to my friends, they say that aside from being a bit short and quiet, he has no weaknesses; he's practically perfect.

Mentally mature and kind, with a sense of loyalty that makes him go overboard for his friends, and the initiative he showed at the fall event apparently attracted quite a few girls.

"But, apparently, Kousuke-kun turned them all down without hesitation? Even when Obata-san asked to pair up for the three-legged race, he immediately said he has a girlfriend! You're loved, huh!"

I do feel that I'm loved.

We both passed the entrance exam for Hokushou and walked back to junior high holding hands.

Since there were acquaintances around, we quickly let go of each other's hands.

Seeing Kousuke-kun turn red, I realized that even though I thought of him as mature, he's just a boy my age.

On graduation day, after it was over, we had our first kiss in the library.

I thought I was cherished, but since he never made a move, I realized I had been anxious. I was so moved that tears came out.

He was trembling when we kissed... even that Kousuke-kun...

For the first time, I felt like I had the upper hand.

Until now, I felt like I was the one approaching him, respecting the mature and quiet Kousuke-kun.

He taught me how to study, listened to my thoughts, and reasoned with me, so I thought Kousuke-kun was above me.

...But, Kousuke loves me, you could say he adores me.

He was trembling just to kiss me?

What? Doesn't that mean I have the upper hand...?

I feel like getting back at the always mature-acting Kousuke.

Why have I been holding back so much until now?

It's all junior high's fault.

Not valuing me, not letting me be in the proper caste.

Things won't be like this once I'm in high school!

I'll change it! My position!

I'll change it! To a position that suits me!

Kousuke acts all mature and says things to me, but I don't need to listen to that.

I'll polish myself up and become someone on Reina Kashii's level in no time!

Well, there was a time like that, right? It was just a few months ago, but so much has changed drastically since starting high school that it feels like a distant past.

I let out a small chuckle. I was just a girl, wasn't I?

The understated accessories and hair clips Kousuke gave me, the fur scarf, and a few cute trinkets—I toss them into a garbage bag one by one.

Come to think of it, the silver accessory from Tehany I'm wearing now.

The necklace... there's no fault in a branded item, right? I could sell it at worst?

The satisfaction of tidying up while cleaning makes throwing Kousuke's gifts into the garbage bag feel rhythmic and smooth.

Cleaning is going great!

The trash cleanup is nearing its end♪